Every Other Hour

Two years into Chicago’s surge in gun violence, WBEZ asks: What’s being tried, is it working, and what’s next?

Aaron Taylor's life was almost derailed for having a gun. But his story doesn't end with him sitting in prison.

It’s not big trafficking rings. Mostly, it’s through little guys — and authorities will go far to stop them. Read the full story.

Research finds young women often play central roles in gangs. One teenager reveals how the possibility of power drew her in.

In Chicago, more than 2,300 people have been shot so far this year. But teens in one summer jobs program say fixing dilapidated school auditoriums helps keep them safe. See and hear the full story here. 

This summer, we’re pairing a WBEZ reporter with a photographer and a poet to document the emotional weight of Chicago’s gun violence.

For 18-year-old DaQuan Mosely, the funeral home offers a career path — and refuge from violence.

A 19-year-old man was shot in the arm while playing outside with a group of teens Saturday night in a part of Englewood where more than 80 people have been shot in the past five years, police and neighbors said.

Officials say jobs are key to reducing violence, but they’re not talking about the size an employment program would have to be — or how much it would cost. So WBEZ took a crack at the calculations.

The decision to carry a concealed gun is personal — and it’s a topic that can be pretty uncomfortable to bring up in a city shaken by gun violence. Especially if you’re a Chicago politician.“Do I look like I’m packing?” Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th Ward) quipped before a recent City Council meeting, her eyes widening at the question.WBEZ asked every one of Chicago’s 50 aldermen if they carry a concealed weapon, as part of a project on Chicago violence that looks at who picks up a gun and why. 

Programs offering therapy and job help to young men are sparse, but experts say this age group is at the center of Chicago’s gun violence.

When a man burst through her back door after being shot, Journey Jamison was able to help, because of a training program called UMedics.

The first time Reed opened fire on a rival gang member, he says he got hooked on shooting. “It’s like an adrenalin boost. Like ... I’m da man!” he says. “You know, I enjoyed it.”

In Chicago, more than 80 percent of homicide victims are black.

When Chicago cops find a gun at a crime scene, they ask the feds where it came from. How much can the ATF really help?WBEZ's Natalie Moore has the story.

One bullet. A paralyzed teen. No jail time. How carrying an illegal gun turned a robbery into a tragedy. WBEZ's Miles Bryan has the story.

Shootings in Chicago surged after the release of the Laquan McDonald video, and they’ve showed “no signs of slowing.” What changed?WBEZ's Chip Mitchell has the story.

Two young Chicagoans talk about why they picked up a gun, and how it changed their lives.WBEZ's Patrick Smith has the story.